Press for panels or similar bodies with large extension in comparison to the thickness thereof

Abstract

A press for panels or like articles comprising a lower press platen having depressed portions, U-shaped channel beams carried in the depressed portions having parts extending downwardly below the press platen, the beams being vertically movable with respect to the press platen and supporting rollers therein. When the press platen is moved to its lower non-pressing position the downwardly extending parts contact the stationary press structure and move the beams upwardly with respect to the platen so that the upper ends of the rollers protrude above the upper pressing surface of the platen to allow easy movement of the panels over the rollers into and out of the press, and when the press platen is lifted to exert its pressing action it moves upwardly with respect to the beams until the upper ends of the rollers no longer protrude above the upper pressing surface of the platen.

I claim: 
     
       1. A press comprising a lower press platen having an upper pressing surface and being movable up and down, and rolling bodies provided on said press platen for easily moving articles to be pressed into and out of the press, characterized by supporting means carried in depressed portions of said press platen and being vertically movable with respect thereto, said rolling bodies being rollably supported by said supporting means, said supporting means being provided with parts extending downwardly below said press platen, and stationary press structure positioned below said press platen, whereby when the press platen is moved to its lower non-pressing position the downwardly extending parts of the supporting means contact said stationary press structure and are supported thereon, thereby moving said supporting means upwardly with respect to said press platen so that the upper ends of said rolling bodies are in positions above said upper pressing surface of said press platen to allow easy movement of the articles to be pressed over said rolling bodies into and out of the press, and when the press platen is lifted from its lower non-pressing position to exert its pressing action, said supporting means will at first remain stationary with said downwardly extending parts thereof supported on said stationary press structure so that said press platen moves upwardly with respect to said supporting means until said supporting means are again carried in said depressed portions of said press platen in positions in which the upper ends of said rolling bodies no longer protrude above said upper pressing surface of said press platen. 
     
     
       2. A press according to claim 1, characterized in that said rolling bodies comprise rollers and said supporting means comprise channel beams open at their top, said rollers having trunnions supported by the upstanding walls of the channel beams.